Padma Awards 2026: Mammootty, Dharmendra Honoured as India Celebrates Excellence Across Fields

9Sunday, 25 January 2026| Dubai, UAE [ Posted at 9:09 pm, Updated at 9:12 pm ]

The Padma Awards 2026, announced on the eve of Republic Day, have once again recognised individuals whose work has shaped India’s cultural, social, and professional landscape. From cinema legends to sportspersons, administrators, and social contributors, this year’s list reflects diversity, legacy, and impact. 

Related reads – Golden Globe Winners 2026: Full List, Big Wins for Hamnet, One Battle After Another and Adolescence

Kerala State Film Awards: Mammootty Shines as ‘Bramayugam’ & ‘Manjummel Boys’ Dominate — Full Winners List

Filmfare Awards: Abhishek Bachchan and Kartik Aaryan Share Best Actor Title, Laapataa Ladies Sweeps with 13 Wins

Padma Awards: Big Picture

Overview: A snapshot of India’s highest civilian honours this year.

The Union government honoured 131 individuals in total:

• Padma Vibhushan – 5 awardees
• Padma Bhushan – 13 awardees
• Padma Shri – 113 awardees
  

The awards recognise excellence in fields such as art, cinema, sports, literature, public service, science, and social work.

Padma Vibhushan 2026: Highest Honours

Overview: Exceptional and distinguished service to the nation.

The Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, went to some iconic names:

• Dharmendra (Posthumous) – Legendary Bollywood actor whose contribution to Indian cinema spans decades
• V S Achuthanandan (Posthumous) – Former Kerala Chief Minister
• Justice K T Thomas – Former Supreme Court judge
• N Rajam – Renowned violinist
• P Narayanan – Literature and education contributor

Notably, three awardees are from Kerala, highlighting the state’s cultural and intellectual influence.

Read more – Oscar Nominations 2026: ‘Sinners’ Leads the Pack in a Record-Breaking Year for Horror

‘Bramayugam’ Becomes the Only Indian Film Honoured at Oscar Museum

Padma Bhushan 2026: Distinguished Service

Overview: Recognising impactful national contributions.

The following is the list of Padma Bhushan winners:

• Mammootty – Celebrated Malayalam cinema icon, honoured for his outstanding contribution to Indian films
• Alka Yagnik – Playback singing legend
• Uday Kotak – Banker and financial leader
• Shibu Soren (Posthumous) – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder
• Vellappally Natesan – SNDP Yogam general secretary
• Vijay Amritraj – Indian tennis pioneer and global sports ambassador
  

For cinema lovers in the UAE, the recognition of top recipients makes the award especially memorable.

Padma Shri 2026: Grassroots Excellence

Overview: Celebrating service across diverse fields.

The Padmashree honours contributors from sports, science, arts, and social work, including:

• Harmanpreet Kaur – Indian women’s cricket team captain
• Rohit Sharma – Indian men’s cricket team captain
• Savita Punia – Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper
• Praveen Kumar – Paralympic gold medallist
• A E Muthunayagam – Science and technology
• I M Vijayan – Former Indian football team captain

These awards underline India’s growing global footprint in sports and innovation. Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur emerged as the top highlights of these awards.

Why These Awards Matter for UAE Indians

Overview: A global celebration of Indian excellence.

With millions of Indians living and working in the UAE, the award resonates deeply. Honouring achievers like Dharmendra and top sportspersons reinforces cultural pride and keeps the diaspora connected to India’s evolving story.

FAQs

Conclusion

The Padma Awards in 2026 celebrate excellence, legacy, and service. including cinematic brilliance to leadership in sports, governance, and culture. For Indians in the UAE, it’s a reminder that Indian talent continues to shine globally, earning respect and recognition at the highest level.

Read more – Chatha Pacha Movie Review: Mammootty’s Power-Packed Cameo Steals the Show in Malayalam Cinema